A/N: Hey guys! :) I was so happy to hear what all of you were saying on the last chapter. There was a unanimous consensus that this fic would keep it's lighthearted tone so that it what's going to happen and thank you for all letting me know what you think. We are now at the end of the time in Arcadia so next chapter will see the return to TonDC which I'm looking forward too. So yes, please continue to review, and a few people have asked me about pairings for certain single characters and what I intend to do with them. So if you have any opinions please let me know because that will influence my final decision! :D Love you guys xx
Waking up the next morning was perfect, Clarke opened her eyes to meet the warmth of Lexa's sparkling green gaze as she watched Clarke sleep.
"How long have you been awake?" Clarke asked curiously as Lexa just shifted closer to Clarke and grinned.
"I like watching you sleep."
Clarke rolled her eyes, "Many of my people would consider that strange Lexa."
"What others think is not my concern Clarke. It comforts me to watch you sleep and know that you are mine, and that after all we have done to survive, it means a lot to me that you have the trust in me to let your guard down completely and sleep."
Taken slightly aback at the honesty and vulnerability of Lexa's answer, Clarke could think of no words to answer her in kind so she just leaned forwards and placed a tender kiss on Lexa's mouth.
They stayed in bed, stubbornly refusing to move, until eventually Octavia walked in with a hand over her eyes as Lexa growled, half amused but also annoyed at the interruption.
"Look I don't know what you two are doing and I don't really want to know. But it is noon already and this is our last day in Arcadia. You two need to get up before Abby comes in here to drag you out herself." With Octavia blinded, Clarke seized the opportunity to get revenge for the intrusion, grabbing a pillow and chucking it across the room so it smacked firmly into the side of Octavia's head.
"Get out Octavia, we'll get up and follow you out soon."
Octavia was more than happy to retreat, rubbing at her head. Clarke didn't catch what she was muttering but she did hear something about crazy blondes and getting revenge so she made a note to just avoid Octavia until they were safely back at Polis where Lexa's warriors would protect her. Or at least until they got to TonDC and Octavia was distracted by her initiation.
Looking at Lexa who was still pulling a disgruntled face, Clarke chuckled and kissed her quickly before climbing out of the bed and slipping into her "Wanheda" clothes, as Raven referred to them.
Lexa smiled before following, assembling her armor quickly before buckling her shoulder guard in place and sitting down so that Clarke could do her braids.
"This week has gone so fast." Clarke remarked as her hands began twisting through Lexa's hair.
"Do you wish we were staying?" Lexa was curious but her tone was hesitant, as though she believe that Clarke might turn around and decide to stay whilst she returned to Trikru lands alone.
Clarke was quick to allay her fears, lightly ghosting a thumb over her cheek before focusing back on Lexa's hair. "I love Arcadia and my people, but Polis is my home now and I am glad we will be returning soon. How long are we expecting to stay in TonDC?"
Lexa smiled in relief, catching Clarke's hand as she finished tying off her braids and placing a small kiss on the inside of her wrist before indicating that they should switch positions. "No more than a few days Clarke, just long enough for Octavia's initiation. I worry about leaving Aden too long in Polis alone." She answered as she gently started returning the favor and braiding Clarke's hair to indicate her station as Wanheda.
"Good." Clarke smiled, "I can't wait to be home."
Once they were both fully dressed, they quickly packed up their belongings into their saddle bags, dropping them off at the stable before heading to the mess hall to get something to eat, where Octavia, Lincoln, Raven and Cal were already waiting for them.
Cal's expression was sad as they sat down and Lexa worriedly asked him what was wrong.
"Octavia said that you are all leaving tonight, is that true?" The quiver in his voice broke Clarke's heart and making a snap decision she leaned forwards to whisper to him. "Yes Cal, we are leaving, but you're coming with us as well. Ontari had promised to take care of you."
Ontari herself arrived a moment later, sliding into her usual seat and not immediately noticing the way Cal's eyes had lit up and he was staring at her. Then suddenly there were arms wrapped around her waist and she was forced to grab onto the table to avoid being knocked from the bench as Cal buried his face in her chest and she looked at the others questioningly.
"I just told him that he's coming with us and you're going to be his new guardian." Clarke smiled.
Then it was Ontari's turn for her eyes to light up as she wrapped her arms tightly around the kid in return until he finally let go and they all resumed eating.
"Thank you." Ontari nouthed to Clarke who nodded happily in response.
After a thoughtful pause, Lexa turned to Raven, who was the only one of their group not making the journey to TonDC, having no reason to leave Arcadia.
"Raven, is you are able to get away from your duties here, I would like for you to join us when we ride out this evening. Over the years, my people have gathered odd assortments of objects of the technological nature and I would appreciate someone of your skill taking the time to go through it all."
Raven agreed immediately, happy to not be left behind, "Of course Commander, but you don't need an excuse to ask me to come along. You can just tell me that you would miss me."
Lexa responded to the light teasing with a calm stare and a small smile, "Perhaps I don't. Regardless, as long as I live there will always be a place in Polis for all of you." She addressed the entire group nonchalantly, but they all recognized the weight behind the words. The admission of the affection she held for each of them.
Walking through the camp in her full leader ensemble was an odd experience for Clarke. All week she had wandered freely in casual clothes, but now her and Lexa were fully armed and dressed with their hair braided and a very light layer of warpaint, Skaikru scrambled to move out of their way as they passed.
Lexa wasn't fazed by the entire experience in the slighted, being used to the effect she had on people when in "Heda" mode. But Clarke found herself struggling not laugh on many occasions when it just built up and felt ridiculous that people she had spoken to easily the day before were now dropping their gaze to the floor as she walked past.
They spent the remainder of the day finalizing that way Arcadia would run once Clarke was no longer present, putting together a small council of people who would govern on day to day matters, as well as giving strict commands that a rider must be sent for Clarke in the event of an emergency and they were not allowed to make independent decisions following that eventuality.
Raven was panicked, having found herself with next to no time to decide what it was essential for her to take. Eventually she just packed up a few sets of clothes and her tool kit, as well as a load of batteries so she could try and get any tech the grounders had gathered working.
The most nerve wracking part was when the announcement was made that Cal would be riding out with them and not remaining in Arcadia. Although outwardly she was the picture of calm, internally Clarke was sure that someone was going to fight her on the decision and cause trouble.
Surprisingly there was barely a murmur of protest, in fact, many of the orphaned kids were upset that they weren't allowed to go with the others. Even the confirmation that Ontari was to be his guardian didn't provoke a negative reaction, and Clarke breathed a sigh of relief as she eventually stepped down after the parting speak to her people and headed over to the gates with Lexa, where the others had already prepared the horses.
Indra was already in the saddle, and Lexa nodded to her in greeting, having barely seen the warrior all week as she had been spending time with Marcus Kane a lot and discussing trading between their villages, which Clarke had given them full permission to go along and do without her intervention.
Lincoln was also mounted up alongside Ontari who had Cal in the saddle in front of her, whispering something in his ear.
"Come on Raven, I'll give you a boost up ok?" Nodding determinedly, Raven placed the foot of her bad leg in Octavia's hand and pulled down on her horses saddle. To her surprise, Octavia lifted her easily, allowing Raven to swing her good leg over the horses back and settle into her seat comfortably.
"Thanks O." She smiled happily.
Octavia winked at Raven and then headed over to her own horse, which was between Lincoln and Ontari's, when Cal came crashing down on her shoulders like a ton of bricks from his vantage point on Ontari's horse. Octavia desperately tried to keep her feet but was forced to her knees, Cal clung to her neck like a monkey and threw himself to the side, giggling as Octavia crashed to the floor underneath him.
"Heda?" Ontari grinned widely, chuckling at the disbelieving look on Octavia's face.
Lexa walked closer and crouched down in front of Octavia, "You lose Octavia, bested by a five year old. And as agreed you know have to carry Ontari up to my throne room on our return to Polis."
Octavia just groaned in defeat as Ontari laughed loudly, leaning down as Cal ran to her to pull him up onto the horse again. Octavia dusted her self off with a disgruntled look shot at Lincoln, "You could have given me a heads up that I was about to be sneak attacked by the little ninja in training over there."
Lincoln smiled and just shrugged his shoulders, "One minute he was on the horse, the next you were both on the ground, it was a fair win."
Clarke and Lexa laughed along with the rest of them as they swung themselves up into the saddles of their respective horses. Waving goodbye to Abby and Kane who had come to the gates to see them off, before heading out of Arcadia with their odd little dysfunctional family in tow.